Imagine a portable, cheap ($350 today), context aware version of Microsoft Surface and you may be close to what MIT presented at TED2009. Sixth Sense at it’s core is a camera and projector you carry around with you – not too amazing right? What if they worked together to project information about products, places and even people right on whatever surface happens to be in your vicinity – maybe even your hands?

Sixth Sense combines an ordinary SmartPhone, camera and mini-projector. The camera tracks your gestures and environment. The projector displays information and an interface relevant to the situation. The phone runs the necessary apps, connects to the internet and provides the horsepower.

The best way to appreciate what Sixth Sense can do is to see it in action. The video is long but full of clever nuggets and “ah-ha” moments. But if you don’t have the time, skip to about 3:10 and you’ll instantly get the plot with some insanely cool demos.

Further Reading

TED: Maes & Mistry: Unveiling the “Sixth Sense,” game-changing wearable tech
iGizmodo: Sixth Sense May Change How We Look At The World Forever
Engadget: MIT’s “sixth sense” augmented reality device demonstrated on video

The ultra-hot touchscreen mobile phone arena is about to get even hotter.  The next contender is the promising Blackberry Storm which has gained many favorable reviews.  No Storm release date has been announced but it’s coming soon.  And the latest news about the Storm comes by way of Fortune who reveals that Vodaphone – Blackberry’s UK carrier – is considering a grab for lucrative multi-year customer contracts by selling the Storm for either $99.  Or FREE.  We like the sound of free.

Competition with the iPhone and now T-Mobile Dash is creating a crowded smartphone market.  And RIM, traditionally strong with business customers, wants to reach out to the broader consumer market.  Recent news indicates that Steve Jobs has leeway to sell the iPhone for as little as $99.  T-Mobile’s Android-based G1 is selling now at Wal-Mart for only $149.

Even better for those of us on this side of the pond is the news that Blackberry and Verizon are considering deep discounts in the United States also with price points of either $150 or $99 being most likely.  More as soon as we hear the official release details from Verizon and Blackberry.

Blackberry Storm Interface

T-Mobile G1 - 3G + Android Goodness

Wal-Mart dropped the bomb – starting today you can get the T-Mobile G1 smartphone for $149 (compared with $179 from T-Mobile) from the omni-present peddler of inexpensive goods.  This is certain to help uptake of the G1 due to the low price and also Wal-Mart’s wide retail reach.  The G1 is a phone with lots of promise though certainly in its infancy.  A 2-year contract is required.

In related news, at least one industry analyst is confident that Apple could get into the price-cutting game as well with the iPhone.  How does a $99 iPhone sound ?  We won’t hold our breath but this is an intriguing time in the smartphone space.  And we cannot forget about the Blackberry Storm.  Competition is always good.